News
Local

Major defence contracts announced

8 WING/CFB TRENTON (04/11/2013) Lt. Col. Colin Selkirk, commanding officer of Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron (ATESS) at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, and Sgt. Wes Henderson, radar expert, speak to Chris Alexander, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Ajax MP and Northumberland-Quinte West MP Rick Norlock regarding ATESS radar systems following a funding announcement at the base Thursday, April 11, 2013. A $75.5 million contract for new surveillance radar and secondary surveillance radar at six RCAF airstrips – two at CFB Trenton – was announced. The contract was awarded to the company Cassidian, of Munich, Germany. Also announced was a $225 million CC 130 H Hercules avionics system maintenance contact awarded to Cascade Aerospace Inc. of British Columbia.
EMILY MOUNTNEY/TRENTONIAN/QMI AGENCY

The federal government is spending $225 million to maintain the avionics systems used in the Canadian Forces aging fleet of C-130H model Hercules transport aircraft.

The announcement was made Thursday morning by Chris Alexander, parliamentary secretary to the national defence minister.

The 'H' models are used in search and rescue operations. Four of the serviceable aircraft are located at CFB Trenton with 424 Search and Rescue Squadron. Some of the airframes are upwards of 30 years old.

The five-year contract was awarded to Cascade Aerospace Inc. of Abbotsford, B.C. The company also does maintenance work on the new C-130J model.

Alexander did not provide details when asked if the government is moving forward to replace its fixed-wing search and rescue fleet.

The bulk of the maintenance work will be done at Trenton.

There are about 50 Cascade employees at the base.

Senior vice president of programs Dwayne Lucas said the company plans on moving additional staff to Trenton.

Cascade is also bidding on maintenance contract for the Forces fleet of Polaris Airbus aircraft, also located at Trenton.

If that happens, Lucas said the company could at least double its workforce here.

Lucas didn't didn't rule out opening a facility in Trenton if the bid is successful.

“That's our ultimate vision. We could be looking at about 150 people operating in this region,” said Lucas.

Quinte West Mayor John Williams and local MPP Rick Norlock said it has the potential to be a major boost for the aerospace sector locally. Norlock sits on the parliamentary defence committee.

Alexander also announced a $75.5 million contract with German based company Cassidian for new surveillance radar and secondary radar systems at six bases across Canada.

A similar announcement was made Thursday at CFB Comox, B.C.

Over the the next three to four years, new systems will replace 30-year-old technology currently used at the bases in Bagotville, Cold Lake, Goose Bay, Greenwood, Comox and Trenton.

“It (the new systems) are overdue and needed to be replaced,” he said.

CFB Trenton is scheduled to get its new radar system in 2015.

Alexander said the German firm submitted its bid through the government's procurement process. It's not known if there were competing Canadian or North American firms.

“This is a specialized capability,” said Alexander. “There are not to many players who can fit that bill.”

Alexander said the German firm would be creating Canadian jobs, although he did not say how many. He added there are numerous Canadian firms that successfully win European contracts. “We're an open economy,” he said.

8-Wing commanding officer, Col. Sean Friday said the bulk of the training on the new radar systems will be done at Trenton.